TJs Tidbits
Greetings LMS Families,
This week is American Education Week, a week that honors those who work in public schools, everyone
from the bus driver and classroom teacher to the cafeteria worker, support and administrative staff, plus countless others. There are over 50 million K-12 students in US public schools. As a public school educator, I feel honored and privileged to be a part of the team at Ladue Middle School. Our staff works diligently to ensure your children receive a quality education. Some days can be tough, but it's so very rewarding. Thank you for sending your kiddos to us. You could have chosen any public school, but you selected LMS!
It's hard to believe that we are already approaching the holiday season. November is a special time at LMS. It's when we get to do a great act of service by collecting cans for families in need and it's also when we have our annual Turkey Trot race. Both of these events are a huge part of who we are and have been traditions for MANY years. Please consider supporting and encouraging your student to participate in both.
Our school is the single largest donor to Gateway 180, one of the largest homeless shelter/food pantries in the area. One of the things that I stress with our students is the importance of helping and serving others. As someone who lived in a homeless shelter and relied on a food pantry as a child, I can personally attest to how grateful the families will be and how much of a blessing our giving is, especially around the holidays. Our school goal is 20,000 cans or the cash equivalent. Please support us as we give to those who are in need. Please view the Gateway 180 video clip that explains why this effort is so necessary.
Have a great week (:
Greetings LMS Families,
This week is American Education Week, a week that honors those who work in public schools, everyone from the bus driver and classroom teacher to the cafeteria worker, support and administrative staff, plus countless others. There are over 50 million K-12 students in US public schools. As a public school educator, I feel honored and privileged to be a part of the team at Ladue Middle School. Our staff works diligently to ensure your children receive a quality education. Some days can be tough, but it's so very rewarding. Thank you for sending your kiddos to us. You could have chosen any public school, but you selected LMS!
It's hard to believe that we are already approaching the holiday season. November is a special time at LMS. It's when we get to do a great act of service by collecting cans for families in need and it's also when we have our annual Turkey Trot race. Both of these events are a huge part of who we are and have been traditions for MANY years. Please consider supporting and encouraging your student to participate in both.
Our school is the single largest donor to Gateway 180, one of the largest homeless shelter/food pantries in the area. One of the things that I stress with our students is the importance of helping and serving others. As someone who lived in a homeless shelter and relied on a food pantry as a child, I can personally attest to how grateful the families will be and how much of a blessing our giving is, especially around the holidays. Our school goal is 20,000 cans or the cash equivalent. Please support us as we give to those who are in need. Please view the Gateway 180 video clip that explains why this effort is so necessary.
NEW INFORMATION
NEW INFORMATION
STUDENT RECOGNITION
Congratulations to LMS students Sanjay Adireddi, Franklin Yang, Will Feng, and Kevin Diao who recently competed in the Gateway Chess Tournament. These guys brought home a trophy. Way to represent! Check out the pic that was shared in the Parent Link.
ELL PIE NIGHT
The annual ELL Pie Night will be Nov. 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the LMS cafeteria. The purpose of the event is to celebrate diversity, community and friendship. ELL students will share short presentations, parents and families will be able to see the school, and we will sample various pies.
Parents and Students, are you ready for the 1st annual Glow Dance at LMS? Technology Student Association and VEX Robotics Club are hosting the 1st annual Glow in the Snow Dance! The dance is on Friday, December 6 from 6-8 p.m. The gym will be turned into a glow in the dark paradise, with wall to wall black lights and other lighting effects. There will be music in the gym, glow sticks for every student who buys a ticket, glow face painting, a concession stand, a photo booth, and other fun activities to do in the cafe. Tickets will cost $5.00 dollars and each student who purchases a ticket will receive a glow stick when they get to the dance. Tickets will go on sale on Monday, December 2 and be limited to 125 tickets per grade level.
LEF GIVING TUESDAY- (DISTRICT FAMILY ASSISTANCE FUND)
Mark your calendars for Dec. 3 as the day to support families in our community! Giving Tuesday will be a little different this year because the LEF is directing all donations to the Ladue School District's Family Assistance Fund.
And. . . we have a matching gift! Nicky and Scott Stern ('86) will match all gifts up to $5,000. Our goal is to raise $10,000 for the fund.
The Family Assistance Fund helps families experiencing short-term and/or unexpected financial issues that impact the ability of their students to be successful in school. These funds are managed by the district and used discreetly at times when school counselors, psychologists or administrators identify a family in need. Donations are routed through the Ladue Education Foundation, making them tax deductible for those who generously choose to contribute.
In addition to funding grants that expand opportunities for student success, the LEF is committed to supporting the work of teachers and staff, as well as to strengthening our community. We are honored to help ensure the success of the Family Assistance Fund. Click here for more info. Thank you in advance for your support!
CURE COMMITTEE MEETING
The next CURE (Community Understanding Respect Education) meeting will be held on December 5. The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the HS Cafeteria. CURE is a committee of parents/guardians of African-American students that meet four times a year with Superintendent, Dr. Wipke. This is an opportunity to join invaluable conversation on topics related to diversity and inclusion, student achievement, parent networking, and district programming. Questions?? Please contact, Ms. Cassie Johnston at (314) 983-5302 or click on the CURE Flyer
LMS CANNED FOOD DRIVE AND TURKEY TROT
The LMS Canned Food Drive starts on Monday, November 18 and will continue through Tuesday, November 26. Plans are also underway for our annual Turkey Trot Race, which will be held on Tuesday, November 26. Both are huge traditional events.
We have become the largest single donor to the Gateway 180 Shelter and Food Bank and they have come to rely on our donations. We will take donations of either cash, checks, or cans. Every dollar donated is counted as two cans, so $10 dollars is counted as 20 cans. Because the shelter is a non-profit charitable organization, they can buy a lot more food than we are able to purchase with the same amount of money.
For those who are new to LMS, every year we celebrate the end of the Canned Food Drive and the beginning of Thanksgiving Break with a one mile fun run for each grade level. The top male and female finishers in each grade level race will receive a special trophy. The top 10 male and top 10 female student finishers at each grade level will receive a commemorative turkey trot tee shirt. We invite all parents to join their child in the running of this year’s trot. Parents planning to run should meet your child on the upper soccer field at his/her grade level race time.
This year's Trot Schedule is as follows:
6th Grade Turkey Trot – 12:58 pm – 1:37 pm
7th Grade Turkey Trot – 11:02 am – 11:41 am
8th Grade Turkey Trot – 11:45 am – 12:24 pm
We will complete the day with an all-school assembly in the gym from 2:27-3:10 to celebrate and recognize the top contributors to the Canned Food Drive as well as the top runners in the Turkey Trot.
All students that turn in 100 cans will join the 100 can club and their names will be placed in a drawing to have the opportunity to throw a whipped cream pie in a staff member's face at the assembly. Please encourage your students to turn in cans beginning Monday 11/18 and to shoot for joining the 100 can club ($50 equivalent).
We are all looking forward to this season of giving and community building. Many thanks to Hugh McMonigle and Matt Strayhorn for leading this work. Be on the lookout for more specific information as the dates draw closer.
Parent volunteers are needed to help supervise can drop off in the lobby each morning from 7:30-8:15 a.m. during the drive. Visit this sign up genius if you can help!
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITY CANCELLATION
All after school activities and detentions will be canceled on Tuesday, November 26 to allow families and staff to get an early start on their holiday plans. Please plan accordingly.
SKATE TIME (From the PE Department)
The PE department is offering SkateTime again this year in PE class. The students will each get five days of roller skating (quad skates) the week before winter break. The cost is $10.00 cash or checks can be made out to LMS. Each skater must also bring in a permission slip in order to skate. Slips are due on Nov. 15th. Permission slips can be found outside the coaches' offices and in the main office.
The PE department is offering SkateTime again this year in PE class. The students will each get five days of roller skating (quad skates) the week before winter break. The cost is $10.00 cash or checks can be made out to LMS. Each skater must also bring in a permission slip in order to skate. Slips are due on Nov. 15th. Permission slips can be found outside the coaches' offices and in the main office.
BUILDING EXPECTATIONS REMINDERS
Please take a minute to review the building expectations and procedures that are listed below. It is my hope that by sharing expectations in my update, families will become aware and can work in partnership with us to establish an optimal learning environment and ensure the safety and well being of students while at school. These expectations are also in our LMS Student Guidebook, which was sent home with all students and posted on our school website. I STRONGLY encourage families to read the handbook. We will cover key items at school, but the follow up should occur at home. This way both students AND parents/guardians have a solid understanding.
BEFORE SCHOOL LOCATIONS
When students enter the building at 7:30 a.m., they will be directed to the cafeteria until sent to their grade level areas. 6th grade will be in the multipurpose room, 7th will be on the boys side of the gym, and 8th will be on the girls side of the gym. This will be the expectation for the remainder of the school year.
AFTERNOON DISMISSAL PROCEDURES FOR STUDENTS
Did you know that there is a method to the madness for how we dismiss students at the end of the day? Please take a minute to click here: Afternoon Dismissal Procedures and review what we will be sharing with students. It is extremely important that all students follow these procedures. Doing so allows us to get everyone (bus riders, carpool, and walkers) home safely and in a timely manner. Parents, please DO NOT circumvent these expectations. It creates major safety issues and puts students in a situation where they are not complying with school expectations. Should you have a special circumstance, please contact your child's grade level principal so an accommodation can be made.
BREAKFAST PROCEDURES
We are fortunate to serve breakfast in the mornings for LMS students. Students wanting to purchase breakfast should report to the cafeteria immediately upon arrival to school (do not go to lockers or class first). Breakfast is not considered “social time.” Students participating in the breakfast program are expected to eat as quickly as possible and head to class. Students not meeting breakfast expectations may lose breakfast privileges.
ELECTRONICS AT SCHOOL
Please remind your student that electronics, including cell phones, headphones/earbuds, speakers, etc. should remain out of sight for the duration of the school day from 8:10-3:10. This includes lunch. If these items are seen, they will be confiscated as noted in our LMS Student Handbook.
Please remind your student that electronics, including cell phones, headphones/earbuds, speakers, etc. should remain out of sight for the duration of the school day from 8:10-3:10. This includes lunch. If these items are seen, they will be confiscated as noted in our LMS Student Handbook.
Technology devices are not allowed in restrooms or locker rooms. Students should not use the Internet or other digital communication devices to create disrespectful or harassing messages, take pictures or videos or make recordings of others without permission, or send or post materials that threaten or raise concerns about violence against others. All of these activities will be considered a violation of our school district's code of conduct which can be found in our Student Handbook, which will be sent home with each student in the near future.
We strongly encourage families not to send personal technology devices to school unless requested by the classroom teacher for educational purposes. These requests will be minimal now that students have Chromebooks. It is our recommendation that technology devices brought to school are stored in a locked locker during school hours. Note: If there is an urgent message that your child needs to have, please contact the office and we will get the message delivered as soon as possible. Thank you for your help with this matter.
MORNING DROP OFF/AFTERNOON PICK UP
For safety reasons, students should not be dropped off prior to 7:30 a.m. We do not have any adult supervision prior to 7:30 and our building is locked. Students who arrive prior to this time will have to remain outside. Parents/guardians of students consistently on campus in the mornings without supervision will be contacted by administration.
At the end of the school day (3:10/3:20), students should either ride the bus home, walk, get picked up, or participate in the TAS (Teens After School) Program. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, after school supervision is unavailable after 3:30 unless special arrangements have been made with a staff member to supervise in their classroom. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, after school activities are provided from 3:20-4:20. Students who stay after for activities should be picked up at 4:20, no later than 4:30. As in the morning, parents/guardians of students consistently on campus in the afternoons without supervision will be contacted by administration and may also be taken to TAS and charged a fee.
PLEASE MAKE NOTE OF THIS as we want to avoid students having to sit outside in extreme hot and cold weather conditions.
TRAFFIC REMINDERS
The following is a reminder to some, and new information for others, regarding our morning and afternoon traffic patterns and drop off/pick up procedures.
Our school day for 2019-2020 will be 8:10 am to 3:10 pm.
Our school day for 2019-2020 will be 8:10 am to 3:10 pm.
If you plan to transport your child to school by car in the morning:
- Please be aware that students cannot enter our building until 7:30 am when someone on duty to monitor the front doors and lobby.
- Students may be dropped off at the front of the building prior to bus arrival (they typically begin appearing around 7:45 am). Please follow the designated traffic flow arrows as you enter our campus from either Conway or Clayton roads.
- There will be staff members at locations 1, 2 and 3 to help with traffic flow and supervision. Please follow their directions.
- After buses begin arriving, car traffic will be routed to the rear of the building. The person at location 2 will notify drivers.
- Please proceed down the right-hand drive all the way to the Maintenance Building (end of fencing), then circle back to the rear of the building through the parking lot, staying to the right. Students will be dropped off at the designed area (ONLY along the sidewalk) and enter the building through the east back door to the Gym.
- Cars will then exit the campus using the lower drive (two-way traffic) onto Clayton Road. Please, please, (and please) turn right onto Clayton Road. A left-hand turn onto Clayton, at this time of morning, is potentially dangerous and causes a backup for cars attempting to exit our campus.
If you plan to pick up your child from school by car in the afternoon:
- Please be aware that buses begin lining up in our front Circle Drive around 2:45 pm. Cars parked in the Circle Drive have the very good chance of getting blocked in as more buses arrive. If you have the need to pick up your child before dismissal, I would highly suggest parking in one of the marked parking spaces in the lower drive.
- Cars will be directed to the back of our building to form a “carpool line” as indicated in the second photo. Please drive all the way down the right drive to the Maintenance Building. If there are students on the parking lot (fenced in area), please wait at the gated entrance until students leave. Then, pull into the lot on the LEFT side and begin a line at the recycling bins (along the fence INSIDE the parking lot). When the line reaches the gate at the back, begin a new line just to the right of the existing line. This should keep the lower drive from backing up and blocking cars wanting to leave. A staff person will be located at area A to assist with this.
- At dismissal, students who rides buses will be dismissed first at 3:10, while students who are picked up by car and those that walk will be held in the classroom (until about 3:20 pm).
- Please do not instruct your child to leave the lobby with bus riders and walk through our lots to meet you at your car. This is potentially dangerous as students do not always watch for traffic. It also puts the child in an awkward position as he/she is not following school rules and can be assigned a consequence for not doing so. If you need to pick your child up before buses leave, please notify your student’s grade level administrator and meet your child at the front of the building so that he/she is accompanied while walking through our parking lot. Students are NOT to exit through the doors near the Gym or in the 6th and 8th grade halls.
- Buses are typically loaded within 10 minutes of the 3:10 pm dismissal. Once buses are released, then the staff member at location A will signal cars to approach the front of the building. Students waiting in the classroom will then be released to be picked up by car. Most students are gone by 3:30 pm.
If your student will ride a bus to and from school:
- Please make sure your student knows his/her assigned bus number.
- Bus riders will have a maximum of 10 minutes after the 3:10 pm dismissal to gather their belongings and exit the front of the building.
- Students must check the “bus board” located near the Circle Drive at the end of the sidewalk leading from the Main Lobby doors to determine the location of their assigned bus.
- Students should board the bus quickly, rather than loiter in the front of the building.
Bus passes:
A temporary bus pass may be used for a student to ride home on a different bus. Passes are available on the district website and in the Welcome Center and must be completed and approved BEFORE the date of use. Drivers should be given a copy of the completed and approved bus pass as the student boards the bus.
Thanks for your patience with all of this. It is much easier to verbalize than to communicate in writing. Everyone typically gets the hang of this within the first fews days of school. Our goal is to get students delivered and picked up safely, while also trying to keep traffic flow moving.
SPECIAL TREATS FROM CHARTWELLS
Our building policy does not allow consumption of food by others for safety reasons and to promote healthy living. Chartwells Food Service is offering treats for purchase to families that want to do something special for a birthday or other milestone. We appreciate Chartwells for providing alternative options to families that want to have celebrations at school during lunch shifts.
BUS INFO
To find out more information about your bus route, you may access the Ladue School District website. Once you're on the home page, go to “for Parents > Bus Information” in the navigation at the top of the page. You will find links to the routes for all schools in the right column, as well as contact information should you have any questions or concerns.
LMSPA INFO
LMSPA MEETINGS
The Ladue Middle School Parent Ass
Wed. 12/11, 6:30-8 pm (LMS Library)
Thurs. 1/9, 9-10:30am
Wed. 2/5, 6:30-8 pm (LMS Library)
Tues. 3/10, 9-10:30am
Wed. 4/1, 6:30-8 pm (LMS Library)
Thurs. 5/14 (closed meeting for Exec Board only) 9-11am
Thurs. 1/9, 9-10:30am
Wed. 2/5, 6:30-8 pm (LMS Library)
Tues. 3/10, 9-10:30am
Wed. 4/1, 6:30-8 pm (LMS Library)
Thurs. 5/14 (closed meeting for Exec Board only) 9-11am
You can subscribe to email blasts from the Ladue Middle School Parent Association at http://www.mylmspa.com/
The LMSPA can also be followed on Facebook at
and on Twitter @mylmspa
LMSPA SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE
If you are doing any additional shopping for school supplies, please consider purchasing an extra binder or combination lock to donate when we return back to school. These items are always in demand and will be distributed to students who need them via the LMS counselors, Aundrea Johnson (6), Amy Balsavias (7) and Yvette Sykes (8).
If you are doing any additional shopping for school supplies, please consider purchasing an extra binder or combination lock to donate when we return back to school. These items are always in demand and will be distributed to students who need them via the LMS counselors, Aundrea Johnson (6), Amy Balsavias (7) and Yvette Sykes (8).
CALENDAR DATES (new additions in red)
11/18-11/26 Canned Food Drive
11/20 ELL Pie Night (rescheduled from 11/14)
11/21 M&M Club
11/26 Turkey Trot/Canned Food Drive Assembly
11/26 After School Activities Canceled
11/27-11/29 Thanksgiving Break
12/4 MS Band Concert (LMS Gym)
12/5 Class Mtg
12/5 6th Grade Demonstration Band Concert
12/6 TSA Glow in the Snow Dance
12/9 Japan Trip Parent Mtg
12/10 Field Trip: Spanish Club
12/11-12/12 Hair Spray the Musical
12/16 Field Trip: 8th Grade Patriots to Arch
12/17 M&M Club
12/20 Early Release Records Day
12/20 End of 2nd Quarter
BOARD BRIEFS
Information regarding Ladue Board of Education meetings and work sessions can be found at http://boardbriefs.
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REPEATED INFORMATION- (The information below is a review of information already communicated. No need to read if you read my last update)
LMS DIVERSITY STUDENT LEADERS 2019-2020
The following students were recently selected to serve as Diversity Student Leaders based on their interest in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion at LMS:
The following students were recently selected to serve as Diversity Student Leaders based on their interest in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion at LMS:
New Leaders
Wongail Belete (6)
James Smith (6)
Kevin Diao (6)
Nitya Nara (7)
Isabella Huang (7)
Kirsten Blake (7)
Francesca Bochicchio (8)
Returning Leaders
Anjana Goli (7)
Kayla Wallace (7)
Isaac Archibald (7)
Jeremiah Pinex (7)
Charley Welsh (7)
Graham Labonte (8)
Tyler Hofer (8)
Tanvi Genti (8)
Zahra Khan (8)
Student leaders will participate in ongoing training throughout the school year and will lead a variety of school activities including a class meeting lesson on "I am LMS" Day.
LATIN CLUB
Student leaders from the Ladue Horton Watkins High School Latin Club will visit LMS to lead 6th-8th graders in fun, engaging activities focused on the Latin language and the history of Ancient Rome. Whether you plan to take Latin in high school and are looking for a head start, or whether you are just looking to have fun learning something new, this club is for you! All are welcome - no prior experience needed. Upcoming Fall meeting dates are Tuesday, 11/12 and Tuesday, 12/3, after school in Room 209. Spring meeting dates to be announced soon.
NURSE NEWS (From Nurse Williams)
The opportunity to update the Student Health Assessment online for school year 2019-2020 has ended. This form gives Nurse Williams consent to administer first aid to your child in the school clinic or to seek medical treatment in the event of an emergency and provides information on how to reach your child’s physician should the need arise. Call Nurse Williams at 314-983-5530 or email her at nwilliams@ladueschools.net for a paper copy. The document is under the Parents link on the LMS website.
The opportunity to update the Student Health Assessment online for school year 2019-2020 has ended. This form gives Nurse Williams consent to administer first aid to your child in the school clinic or to seek medical treatment in the event of an emergency and provides information on how to reach your child’s physician should the need arise. Call Nurse Williams at 314-983-5530 or email her at nwilliams@ladueschools.net for a paper copy. The document is under the Parents link on the LMS website.
SAFE STOP
We are excited to announce the launching of SafeStop! Now you can track the progress of your child’s bus by GPS, and you get to decide how and when you are notified of its location. This product was piloted by a group of parents last year with great success and is now available to all Ladue Schools parents. Simply follow the directions on the SafeStop flyer which is also posted to the district’s website and will come to you via Peachjar, as well. To get set up, you only need your child(ren)’s student ID. (You can find student IDs on Infinite Campus or by calling your child’s school’s office.) If you have questions, please contact our transportation department at businfo@ladueschools.net or 314-983-5396. We hope you find this product to add a little extra convenience to your morning and afternoon routines.
QUARTER 2 NEW AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
We have several new activities starting second quarter. Just sharing the list in case you have students who are looking for something to do after school (see below). For more activities, check our school website under the After School Activities tab.
STUDENT PICK UP
This is a reminder to parents/guardians who are picking up students from school events/activities. Please make every effort to arrive on time to get your students. We are starting to experience students waiting on rides well after dismissal, sometimes up to an hour. This request is made not only for safety reasons, but to also ensure our staff can get home to their families. We greatly appreciate your assistance with this matter.
BUS PASS INFO
This Bus Pass form is required at those times when your child must ride a bus not covering his/her usual route. In order for your request to be considered, the bus pass form must be completed and returned to Danna Anderson 24 hours prior to the requested change. Please note that bus passes may not be available on all routes if there is concern about having available space.
This Bus Pass form is required at those times when your child must ride a bus not covering his/her usual route. In order for your request to be considered, the bus pass form must be completed and returned to Danna Anderson 24 hours prior to the requested change. Please note that bus passes may not be available on all routes if there is concern about having available space.
- Bus passes will no longer be accepted on the following buses due to capacity concerns: L1, L2, L3, L5, L9, and L10, L12, and L19
EARLY DISMISSALS
Please try to always call ahead to Danna Anderson 983-5513 or email at danderson@ladueschools.net for early dismissals. We will deliver a note to your child to ensure he/she is down in the office and ready to go when you arrive. This process allows the student to leave the classroom without the disruption of a phone call into the classroom. We get very busy at the end of the day in the front office so it is extremely important that parents call ahead for late afternoon dismissals and try to limit them as much as possible.
PLANNER AND TECH TOTE REPLACEMENTS
Planners- If students need a new planner (lost, damaged, etc.), they should see their school counselor in the Welcome Center to get a new one. Tech Totes- If students need a new tech tote (lost, damaged, etc.), they may get a replacement from the AP office (see Ms. LoBosco). Both items are $5 to replace.
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES- Our After School A
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITY PICK UP
For safety reasons, if picking up your student from an after school activity prior to the 4:20 bell, please stop by the Welcome Center so that he/she can be checked out of the building. Once you notify the office that you are here to pick up your student, the Activity Coordinator will have the student sent down ASAP. We appreciate your assistance with this as it helps us tremendously with attendance monitoring and reporting.
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITY CARPOOL
We are asking parents who pick up students from after school activities t
LMS STUDENT GUIDEBOOK
I am sharing a link to our 2019-2020 LMS Student Guidebook, which contains a wealth of information about our school program and expectations. Please take some time to review this information at home as a family to ensure both you and your student are familiar with its contents. Hard copies were sent home at the start of the school year.
That's all for now!
Dr. T-J
Principal, Ladue Middle School
